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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're considering the Dell Alienware m17 R5, it's designed for gaming and intensive tasks such as 3D rendering or machine learning, with a larger screen and higher performance hardware. However, it's heavier, less portable, has a shorter battery life, and is more expensive. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is more affordable, offers great portability with its smaller size and longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and business scenarios. It has a higher resolution touchscreen with better color accuracy but is less suited for heavy graphical tasks due to its integrated graphics. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware m17 R5
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.4
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is only fair.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a very high screen refresh rate, which is essential for a smooth gaming experience. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s uses an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics solution which is less powerful for these tasks and has a standard refresh rate, making it less ideal for intensive gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.5
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 offers strong performance for engineering and design due to its AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, combined with a large screen with good color accuracy and contrast, although it's less portable and has lower battery life.
Screen Quality
8.1
7.2
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
480Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
301.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, and gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a better screen for content creation.
When considering the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, both offer displays with satisfactory resolution and brightness, ensuring clear visuals and easy readability under various lighting conditions. For engineering and design work, where accurate color representation is crucial, both laptops have screens that cover a wide range of the color spectrum, providing the necessary precision for such tasks. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and slower response times that might detract from immersive and competitive gaming experiences.
Battery
5.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has 5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Poor
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
7.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Dell Alienware m17 R5 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 has a price of $1,100 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
301.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware m17 R5, with a larger screen, higher battery capacity, and a more powerful CPU and GPU, is well suited for general use that may include gaming or other demanding tasks but is less portable and has shorter battery life than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, which offers a more compact size, lighter weight, and longer battery life, making it better for on-the-go use, even though it might not handle intensive workloads as effectively. Both laptops have high-quality screens and sufficient RAM for typical tasks, but the ThinkBook 13s is more suitable for those who prioritize a highly portable device with a touch screen and good battery life, whereas the Alienware m17 R5 excels in performance-oriented scenarios.
Content Creation
7.8
7.8
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.4
7.7
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Dell Alienware m17 R5 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
7.8
7.6
The Dell Alienware m17 R5 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Alienware m17 R5 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware m17 R5 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 11.8'' x 1.05'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.3 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.64" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.76" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 97 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 480Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 301 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware m17 R5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | January 2023
"Overall, the all-AMD system in the Alienware m17 R5 is impressive, especially the graphics performance. However, various driver issues and unnecessary inconsistencies prevent us from truly enjoying such a potent gaming machine. In addition to strong 3D performance, we particularly like the build quality, the fairly bright UHD display with high color space coverage, and the fact that the gamer is often quiet when not under load and also rather quieter than some competitors under load."
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chin | July 2021
"The best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware m17 R5 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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